Quote:
Originally Posted by peter12
Historical context is totally different. People love the spectre of nAzI GeRManY because it sounds edgy and serious. Totalitarianism is a big deal and has only popped up in certain places at certain times. Institutions have to be weak and the movement has to be strong.
I could see America sliding into some kind of tin-pot authoritarianism that is short-lived. Something like Italy in the 1930s. Trump reminded me of Mussolini far more than Hitler. The reason being it was mostly show and fell apart rather quickly.
I studied with one of the foremost Canadian experts on tyranny, if that provides context.
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I agree with this. I do think we are seeing these institutions tested and weakened. There is no serious opposition to Joe Biden amongst those in power, so no need to descend into madness this time.
Where happens in the future? I don't know. The US isn't going to descend into Nazism as we knew it the 1930s. It's likely that even if we see an authoritarian try to hold power, they won't be taken seriously. A lot of pieces would need to fall into place for an authoritarian to successfully hold power in the face of an electoral loss.
We do need to take this moment seriously, but we should still be able to rely on the institutions in place.